Cameron Smith ranked third in the world, is among six players who had the best start after the first round of the Memorial, sponsored by Jack Nicklaus.
Alongside him are Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, South Korea’s Kyoung-hoon Lee, Americans Luke List, Davis Riley, and Cameron Young.
During his last hole of the day, Hughes hit his cut approach to the bottom of the cup for a birdie to join the group of leaders.
Despite a double-bogey and two bogeys, the Canadian could make nine birdies during his round.
In his first start since competing for the PGA Championship title, Young carded a 67 (minus-5) to share the lead at Muirfield Village on Thursday.
Young finished his day with two birdies in three holes, and he joined Luke List, Cameron Smith, and K.H. Lee in the lead, among the players to have started in the morning.
A year ago, Young was returning from two consecutive titles on the Korn Ferry circuit and climbed 300 places in the world rankings to 170th.
He now occupies the 30th position, thanks to five top-3s, including three-second places.
The most recent came at the PGA Championship when he shared the tournament lead in the 14th pennant of the final round.
His chances of winning flew away when he committed a double bogey on the 16th hole.
Each of the leaders returned a card of 67 or five under par. They are suddenly ahead of a quartet that includes Will Zalatoris, beaten in overtime by Justin Thomas two weeks ago at the PGA Championship.
Note the disqualification of Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, winner of the Augusta Masters in 2021.
Based on photos posted on social media, officials felt that a white corrective fluid to center the ball had been painted too obviously on the face of one of his clubs, making the object non-compliant.
Canada’s Corey Conners has shot 69 and is tied for 11th with nine other players.
Bryson DeChambeau, who is playing his first event since the Masters due to surgery on his left hand, handed over a card of 76. Canada’s Adam Hadwin joined him in 96th place.
Adam Svensson, the other representative of the maple leaf to participate in this tournament, completed the course in 72 shots, and he is tied at the 48th level.
Ranking after the 1st round (par 72)
1. Mackenzie Hughes (CAN) -5 (67)
. Lee Kyung-Hoon (KOR) -5 (67)
. Luke List (USA) -5 (67)
. Davis Riley (USA) -5 (67)
. Cameron Smith (AUS) -5 (67)
. Cameron Young (USA) -5 (67)
7. Wyndham Clark (USA) -4 (68)
. Denny McCarthy (USA) -4 (68)
. Sahith Theegala (USA) -4 (68)
. Will Zalatoris (USA) -4 (68)
…
21. Sung-Jae Im (KOR) -2 (70)
. Rory McIlroy (NIR) -2 (70)
. Xander Schauffele (USA) -2 (70)
. Jordan Spieth (USA) -2 (70)
34. Collin Morikawa (USA) -1 (71)
47. Patrick Cantlay (USA) 0 (72)
. Jon Rahm (ESP) 0 (72)
Read more: European Open 2022: Tee Times, Schedule, TV, and Live Coverage
